Woolworths buys Goonellabah site

THE deal is done and Goonellabah will get another new full-scale supermarket.

Retailing giant Woolworths confirmed yesterday it had purchased a large block of land next to the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre to build a new supermarket to compete with nearby Coles.

The Northern Star revealed in March that the negotiations were in full swing, with the Lismore City Council confirming it was talking to a single buyer.

Woolworths’ community relations manager, Simon Berger, yesterday confirmed the retailer had purchased the land and would soon submit a development application to the council to build the suburb’s third supermarket.

He said while details were still sketchy, the new supermarket would carry a full line of items.

“Goonellabah is a growing part of the Lismore area and Woolworths believes there is a strong potential customer base who would like choice and the convenience of a full-line Woolworths supermarket, with some additional specialty shops in this location,” Mr Berger said.

Asked if this would include another Dan Murphy’s discount liquor store, in addition to the one planned for Lismore, he said one in the area was sufficient to meet customer demand.

The new Woolworths supermarket will be in direct competition to the Coles-dominated Goonellabah Shopping Village across the road.